A flooring nailer is a must-have tool when it comes to installing hardwood flooring. Whether you are using the manual or pneumatic flooring nailer, this tool will save you a lot of time and effort.
However, using a manual flooring nailer requires more skill and energy, and that is why most people prefer using a pneumatic flooring nailer.
Unlike the manual flooring nailer, a pneumatic nailer will assist you by providing extra pressure. Thus, you will not have to spend much of your energy when using this tool.
In this article, I will review some of the benefits and drawbacks of one of the best pneumatic flooring nailers, the Freeman PF18GLCN.
Pros
1. Ergonomic Grip and Extended Reach Handle
The Freeman PF18GLCN has an ergonomic grip design, which will help you a lot in nailing comfortably while keeping the vibration at a minimum.
Along with the easy grip, you will be assisted with a 22 inches tall handle. This allows you to work in an ideal posture and eliminates any risk of back pain.
2. Air Filter & Anti-Dust Cap
Installing flooring is a tedious task on its own, so most people will not have the time and energy left for cleaning their tools.
The good news is that this nailer comes with an air filter and anti-dust cap. The air filter will maintain the cleanliness within the internal parts of the nailer.
Meanwhile, the cap will simply prevent your nailer from getting dusty, especially in storage.
3. No-Mar Foot
The Freeman PF18GLCN is designed to help you in all aspects of your flooring, including preventing any damage on your floor during installation.
With a no-mar foot design, you can use the nailer comfortably without worrying about damaging the surrounding floors.
4. Interchangeable Base Plates
With regular nailers, getting an accurate and neat result can be hard, especially when you are working on platforms of different thickness.
Fortunately, the Freeman PF18GLCN comes with interchangeable base plates which will allow you to adjust accordingly to the thickness of your floor, ensuring an accurate flooring.
5. High Quality and Durable
This nailer is made from high quality and durable aluminum, which has gone through a strict and high-standard manufacturing process.
Whether you are using this tool commercially or for home use, it is a truly durable and reliable nailer. This is one of our favorite aspects from the Freeman nailer.
6. 18 Gauge L-Cleats
An 18-gauge L-cleats will allow you to install different types of dense flooring. From Brazilian teak, strand woven bamboo, engineered flooring, to other exotic hardwoods.
Additionally, with the support of the base plates, you will be able to install flooring from 3/8″ to 3/4″ thick. A versatile powerhouse indeed!
7. Tough and Dependable
As I mentioned before, the Freeman PF18GLCN is manufactured through a strict and high standard process.
The result is a tough and dependable flooring nailer that will always be ready even for the toughest jobs and projects.
8. Light-Strike Bumper
Even when using a manual flooring nailer, you will need a lot of energy when installing each flooring.
With a pneumatic nailer like the Freeman PF18GLCN, the light-strike bumper will help you install floorings more effortlessly.
Cons
A pneumatic flooring nailer is a much easier tool to use when compared with the manual nailer.
However, even a nailer like Freeman PF18GLCN will take some time to get used to, A few people find it difficult to nail their floor accurately for the first couple of tries.
To help especially with first timers, it comes with a no-mar foot to prevent damaging surrounding floors.
Regardless, you have to work with extra care as this tool is still powerful enough to damage the surrounding floors.
Freeman is also a well-established brand that has been trusted by professionals and households around the world. Their products are known to have high quality and durability.
However, there are some rare cases when the Freeman PF18GLCN would stop shooting out nails after a while.
If you happen to be involved with one of these rare cases, you can simply contact the customer service and claim your 7-year warranty.
Read also: 9 Types of Nail Guns and Their Uses
Price
The Freeman PF18GLCN is not necessarily the cheapest flooring nailer available.
However, this is very common as most pneumatic nailers are more expensive than a manual nailer.
You can definitely get a cheaper pneumatic nailer, but considering its quality and versatility, I’d say that it is worth it and not overpriced at all!
Conclusion
In the end, I can safely say that the Freeman PF18GLCN is one of the best pneumatic flooring nailers that is suitable for both commercial and home use.
No matter if you are a contractor or a first timer, this tool will help you a lot in installing your floorings.
If it fits your budget, I recommend adding this nailer to your toolkit.